Thursday Goodie Bites

So my cousins and I have this saying that something that is a small dessert like object it is called a "Goodie-bite". We figure it's still a goodie, even if we are limiting ourselves to just small bite. In our dutch family there are many treats we refer to as goodie bites. :) Today is filled with goodie bites on the Chic Runner, from fashion to a few cool tips.

First off though, I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful get well wishes. With about 10,000 mgs of Vitamin C floating through my system, 200 oz. of tea, and of course NyQuil for good nights sleep, my seal cough is slowly going away. This leads to another interesting fact though. Because of my run down state I have not ran this entire week. I realized that if I continue running, I will make myself more sick and not properly allow healing. While talking to one of my friends who knew I was sick they said, "You are either deathly ill, or healthy, there is no in between for you." Which is unfortunately very true. So I figured I'll run a long run on Saturday and just start fresh next week, and work hard, instead of doing three weeks of crappy training, because I would continue to be sick. We'll see how that works out.

Yesterday after work, I was walking to my car, and it was the most beautiful Southern California running weather, and I wanted nothing more than to go to a jog. Unfortunately, I knew that this would only hinder my getting better process, so instead I endured the pain of getting my almost unibrow waxed. (Okay just kidding, it wasn't even close to a unibrow, but I'm paranoid and it was getting beyond plucking repair. I like to think that in my diseased state, was too weak to pluck, or you can blame me for being lazy.) So next week I will be able to enjoy the fresh air and nice breezes on my evening runs and with wonderful looking brows... :)

Now for the goodie-bites. Lookie what I have found.
First off we have the Adidas's Women's Soft Touch Pants.

They come in Pink Cherry/Black combination and are simply delicious. I have a pair like these soft touch, and they are not lying about the soft touch. The pants are reversible ClimaLite® material and are suitable for running or jogging. They have mesh inserts on the face side and solid fabric on the reverse allow you to customize your protection based on weather and level of activity, which is a huge bonus. Flatlock seams for reversibility and comfort ensure a chafe-resistant time, another big plus. They have wonderful features called pockets, shocking I know. Instead of being 54.99, they are currently on sale for 19.99.

(http://www.footlocker.com/catalog/productdetail/cm--Outlet%3A%20Type%3A%20Clothing/supercat--outlet/model--87859~227221/mvpid--prod_tp~35002124/sport--all/)

Obviously everyone knows I'm obsessed with Nordstrom, and I have an undying affection for Nike as well, so therefore this precious find screamed my name... The Nike Modern Fit Jacket.

I love this jacket for so many reasons, first off the price. It was 75.00 and now it's 49.90. Sure it's still pricey, but I know for the price I'm paying I'm getting a lot. It comes in two different cute but not obnoxious colors and I can feel this working for a run, on my way to the gym and even over jeans in the fall and winter months. It has a nice shape to help the fit of the jacket, not making it boxy like some workout jackets can be. Pockets again are a huge plus, and the spandex in it, means it will fit again and again, even if I decide to take some time off running. (HA!)

(http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3007416/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007550?mediumthumbnail=Y&siteId=BolFSqx4S4U-PBqKhbl1noSmZPPwAXBOkA)

Next we have this little thing that Starbucks introduced called the Power Protein Plate. It basically has all my life staples in it, including cheese, an apple, a bagel, peanut butter and grapes.

Now it's 4.95, which is a little pricey, but at the same time, it's on the go, easy to eat and is super tasty. Just make sure the sprig of grapes is ripe, and not 'sad' as some websites have stated some of the plates to be filled with 'sad grapes'. I wouldn't want anyone to have sad grapes and blame me! The plate has 330 calories with peanut butter, 260 without which is about one-third of your daily protein intake.

Also another food tip from Eat This, Not That! (my favorite book of all time) Swaps Section.
You can eat two Mc Donald's Egg McMuffin's for the same amount of calories as one sesame seed bagel with cream cheese.

It may be shocking, but it's true, and that is the exact reason why I love this book. I used to always think that a bagel with cream cheese (okay, maybe the amount of cream cheese I was putting on was a little unnecessary) was much better than eating something like a McMuffin. Wrong! That's what the book taught me in so many different ways. It's so helpful to keep around, I swear. So the book is not only great because not only because I am obsessed with Egg McMuffins, but because it reflects what we think is the key to successful weight loss: satisfying your cravings with smarter choices, not eliminating the foods you love altogether. So another plug for the book, I know, but I'm shamelessly a promoter for it, it's amazing.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and next week something big will happen at Chic... besides me giving a review of the new oatmeal at Starbucks! :) Get Excited!

xoxo

A Calibration gone awry...

So without my Nike+, tracking my miles is pretty much the hardest thing to do ever in my car. There are too many u-turns, neighborhood and park runs, it just ends up with me going in circles, and being a bad driver. Since getting my Nike+ last December for Christmas my life has changed, in a good way. The first one I have started randomly prematurely end runs which made me exchange my first one for a new one, which is the one I have now. Since getting the new one I have always told myself I will calibrate it to match my running speed and steps. I thought this simple task would help me be more precise about my workouts.

WRONG.

It began with my running friend and I going to a local track and jogging a 400 and walking a 400 to calibrate the Nike+. Hers now works perfectly, which is funny because hers was the one with problems before, and now mine is the one that is having difficulty. Normally when I run and press the center button the voice says somewhere between a 7 and 9 minute range, and I know that was pretty close to accurate. The day after our calibration I went out and went for a hard five mile run. I was running my little butt off, sweating, (which I know only happens when I run sub 8.) When I got about three miles out and pressed the center button. It said 2 miles and a pace of 11:40. I couldn't believe it. I think I stopped and gasped. Not because I was tired but it was like my friend was lying to me. I was running at least 8 minute mile pace. I knew everything was internally messed up in my Nike+ because of the calibration. So I went to the Nikeplus.com site to figure out how to reset it. By the way, the Nikeplus.com site is a little weird, I don't really know what is going on over there, or if I am just dumb, but I couldn't figure much out from it. I tried to reset it, and to no avail it is still off by a good minute. This is frustrating, because I can run a seven minute mile and it will still tell me 9 minutes. I just want some encouragement here people!

I love, love, love this gadget and only want it to return to it's normal wonderful truthful self. The other day I was running on the treadmill, which is annoying in itself, and the treadmill told me I ran 3.5 miles, while the plus was a good 1.8 miles off. I have read about the Nike+'s being a little bit different, but more than a mile?! Come on Nike! What happened to my little red and white baby?!

Other than that a very productive weekend. In three days I ran 25 miles, and even ran the Nike+ Human Race. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the website (nikeplus.com again, not my fault :) and how to sign up and that it was actually a real race. I know, don't ask, I'm already embarrassed enough, so I ran it by myself down at the beach. My first 3.5 miles were going really well, and I was running decently hard, then the turn around which always give me an extra boost. Unfortunately not this time, and I definitely wasn't prepared for the wind in my face which slowed me down tremendously. As all the people lined Bolsa Chica beach, and I ran by they probably asked themselves why I was running so slow. Bummer, but still finished in an hour, and that was after running ten miles the day before.




PS. This Zella "Yang" jacket is on sale right now at Nordstrom (http://shop.nordstrom.com/). The fabric is ammmahzung and it keeps you warm at night. I have one just like it and I love it. They have it in a light turquoise too which I love, because it's bright and will help cars see you, since cars are the enemy!

More this week, especially on some new great running finds ;)